The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) gained a radiologist when Dennis Wulfeck, MD, was named to the group in September along with seven other new members.
Wulfeck is a diagnostic radiologist and president of the practice board at the Jacksonville, FL-based RadPartners MBB Radiology. He has 33 years of imaging experience.
His appointment has drawn praise from medical imaging societies, with the task force issuing recommendations based on current evidence for breast and lung cancer screening, among other medical topics. The USPSTF consists of nationally recognized experts in prevention, evidence-based medicine, and primary care who serve four-year terms. Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Secretary of the Department of Health & Human Services (HHS), appointed the new members.
AuntMinnie (AM) caught up with Wulfeck (DW) to discuss his nomination, goals, and previous work in imaging research.
Dennis Wulfeck, MD
AM: Could you give some background on your career in radiology? How did you first become interested in medical imaging?
DW: My career in radiology spans more than three decades in diagnostic imaging. I earned my medical degree at Wright State University, completed residency at the University of Louisville, and pursued a fellowship in nuclear medicine at the University of Cincinnati. Along the way, including my service in the U.S. Navy, I moved into leadership roles such as department chair and practice-board president at MBB Radiology/Radiology Partners.
These positions have kept me closely connected to clinical care, practice strategy, and leadership development. I have had the privilege of working with and learning from many dedicated body imagers throughout my career. My interest in medical imaging first solidified during medical school and residency, when I saw firsthand how high-quality imaging, including screening tests like mammography, could meaningfully change the course of disease detection and prevention for patients.
AM: Could you share some more details and the results from your research over the years? What are you most proud about from your career?
DW: My Doctor of Healthcare Administration (DHA) research thesis examined the impact of reporting incidental thyroid nodules. I developed modeling approaches to address our research question around achieving more consistent, evidence-based management. That work demonstrated how modeling can convert practice variation into clear best practice recommendations, and it has shaped my ongoing research plans to apply similar modeling to other best practice initiatives Radiology Partners has developed and continues to develop. This has important implications for screening.
What I am most proud of is my sustained commitment to lifelong learning and career development — both personally and professionally. I value the ability to blend clinical care, research, and leadership skills to help improve healthcare at scale. Being selected to serve on the USPSTF is the ultimate honor and privilege of my career.
AM: You were appointed to the task force because of your expertise in modeling approaches and research designs and your experience in applying evidence-based recommendations. Could you share your background in these areas and also your philosophy on screening?
DW: I’ve built my expertise over many years of Master’s, MD, and DHA research by analyzing large datasets with statistical models and rigorous study designs to determine which medical approaches are truly effective, then translating those findings into practical recommendations. My philosophy on screening is straightforward: I recommend a test only when solid evidence shows that its benefits clearly outweigh the harms for the people who would receive it.
AM: Your appointment has received praise from the radiology community. Can you discuss the importance of having an imaging expert at the table and the role you hope to play as the USPSTF continues to analyze and update recommendations?
DW: I am extremely honored and privileged to have the overwhelming support of the radiology community. Having an imaging expert at the table helps the Task Force blend the best science with real-world experience from specialists like radiologists, so recommendations stay practical and effective for everyday care. As HHS reforms the USPSTF to be more transparent and focused on better outcomes while keeping its core job of reviewing evidence for screenings and other preventive services, I hope to contribute clinical insights that support fair, high-quality guidance benefiting millions of Americans.
AM: What are your goals for your appointment to the USPSTF and what can the radiology community expect over the short- and medium-term from the task force?
DW: I am deeply honored to have been appointed to the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force as the first radiologist in this role, a responsibility I approach with seriousness and humility. My primary goal is to help the Task Force continue rigorously evaluating the best available evidence and issuing clear, evidence-based recommendations on clinical preventive services that improve the health of Americans. The Task Force’s work will remain firmly evidence-driven, while its evolving composition in retaining experienced members and thoughtfully adding specialists and full-time practicing doctors strengthens the process by incorporating diverse perspectives that test conclusions against real-world practice.
As a radiologist who sees many different subspecialty exams daily, I bring a grounded understanding of both the benefits and potential harms of screening, and I look forward to contributing that practical insight to support transparent, systematic methods that produce recommendations clinicians can trust and that serve patients well.
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